Media Programming Directors

Media Production & Technical

Level 7817 of 1200 points

Job description

Media Programming Directors

Job purpose

To direct and coordinate the personnel who prepare a radio or television station's programme schedules and programmes, and to plan, acquire, monitor and clear that output, so that the station broadcasts to schedule, to an adequate standard of performance and in conformance with broadcasting regulation.

Skills

Command of media production, communication and dissemination technique, with working knowledge of the computer and electronic equipment and broadcast transmission systems the station runs on, English composition for copy and on-air work, the Federal Communications Commission rules governing programme content and logs, and the management principles needed to plan, budget and staff a department. Sales, marketing and customer knowledge support promotion and audience work. Bachelor's degree is the norm, with a substantial minority holding a school-leaving qualification or some college courses, together with several years of related experience and on-the-job or vocational training.
Directs and coordinates staff engaged in broadcast news, sports and programming and coaches and trains them individually. Confers with directors and production staff on production and casting problems, budgets, policy and news coverage, and coordinates across departments such as news and programming. Acts as liaison between talent and directors, briefing performers and guests and carrying their concerns back. Conducts broadcast interviews, reads news, records public service and promotional announcements, and supplies programme information to local media outlets.
Evaluates new and existing programming for suitability and the need for change using audience surveys, ratings data and feedback, and develops ideas for programmes the station could produce itself. Checks completed programme logs for accuracy and conformance with broadcasting regulation and resolves the inaccuracies found, and monitors network transmissions for advisories on schedule changes, content and special feeds, adjusting output accordingly. Judgement is exercised against regulatory rules and station guidelines, but the choice of what to broadcast, and the response when a scheduled item falls through, rests with the postholder.
Plans and schedules programming and event coverage against broadcast length, time availability, community need, ratings data and viewer demographics, establishes work schedules and assigns work to staff, and sets longer-range objectives for the department's output. Directs the setup of remote facilities and installs or cancels programmes at remote stations. Several schedules run concurrently and the transmission clock sets the deadline absolutely.
Operates and maintains on-air and production audio equipment from a seated position, working at a desk and control position for much of the day with hands continuously on controls. Prepares copy and edits tape to broadcast-ready condition, work involving repeated fine adjustment, and inspects equipment when faults appear.

Responsibilities

Directs a department of programming, news and sports personnel, establishing their work schedules, assigning their work, evaluating their performance and hiring staff. Coaches and trains them and builds the relationships between departments on which the schedule depends, and is accountable for the quality of what they put to air.
Develops budgets for programming and broadcasting activity and monitors expenditure to keep it within budgetary limits. Selects and acquires programmes, music, films and other material and obtains the legal clearances for their use, and participates in planning and executing fundraising activity. Promotion of current programmes and specials carries a commercial expectation.
Holds charge of the on-air and production audio equipment, operating and maintaining it, and of the station's stock of programmes, music, films and recorded material. Directs the setup of remote broadcast facilities and inspects equipment to identify faults.
Accountable for the accuracy of the programme log — the station's regulatory record — and of the programme and schedule information issued to local media outlets. Prepares broadcast copy and maintains the department's files. An inaccurate log or a mis-cleared item is a regulatory matter, not merely an internal one.

Effort required

Holds the transmission schedule, the state of the equipment and the position of several programmes in preparation in view at once, while monitoring network advisories for changes that must be absorbed immediately. Decisions are frequent, exactness is essential in logs, copy and clearances, and creative development has to be fitted around continuous operational monitoring.
Manages contention between departments, between talent and directors, and between the schedule and what individuals want on it, handling complaints and settling disputes. On-air duties and public contact require composure in front of an audience, and the station's output is judged competitively against others.
Predominantly seated work at a desk and at audio control positions, with sustained use of the hands on equipment controls and repeated small movements. No lifting or heavy exertion.

Working conditions

Indoors and environmentally controlled throughout — studios, control rooms and offices — with no physical hazard recorded. Contact is continuous, with staff, performers, guests, external clients and the public, and the psychological demand comes from that contact and from broadcasting live, where an error is immediately public.
Most incumbents work a regular established schedule, though more than half work beyond a standard working week. Time pressure is set by the transmission clock and by network changes arriving at short notice, so the day mixes repeated routine tasks with unplanned interruption. Determines tasks, priorities and goals with considerable freedom within station policy and regulatory requirements, and decisions carry consequences for colleagues and for the station's results.

Skills

40% · 349 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 6 of 8
108 of 144 points
Advanced knowledge of a field of work with a deep understanding of theories and principles. The job requires high-level knowledge, showing expertise and practical knowledge, to solve complex and unexpected problems within a specialised area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Advanced communication and interpersonal skills. The job holder is required to manage complex interactions, mediate interpersonal conflicts and support group collaboration.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Non-standard problems. The job involves solving complex, non-standard problems involving multiple factors to consider. Solutions often require careful analysis and the adaptation of current methods.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 4 of 5
58 of 72 points
Advanced organisational skills required. The job requires planning and managing complex, often overlapping tasks or schedules. The job requires a degree of autonomy and joint planning, and managing interdependencies across teams or departments.
Physical skillsLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Basic physical skills required. The job requires some physical skills that involve light to moderate physical effort. There is some requirement for dexterity beyond the everyday needs of life. Manipulation may be required, but precision is not necessary.

Responsibility

35% · 348 points▾

PeopleLevel 5 of 5
144 of 144 points
Full responsibility for people. The job involves complete responsibility and accountability for the well-being and development of others (including patients or children) and/or leading, directing and managing others, including setting objectives, making strategic decisions and overseeing the welfare and development of those under supervision. It includes hiring, firing, evaluating, motivating, training, developing staff, conducting pay reviews, determining pay and staffing levels, or managing complex care or support systems. The job involves overall accountability for managing an organisation's entire workforce or a significant part of a large organisation.
Goods and equipmentLevel 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Moderate responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the regular use and maintenance of more valuable equipment or materials. It may include managing resources or ensuring equipment stays in good condition.
InformationLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Considerable responsibility for information. The job manages large amounts of valuable or sensitive information, deciding what is needed and how it is used and ensuring it is protected.
Financial resourcesLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Considerable responsibility for financial resources. The job involves managing large budgets or financial portfolios, making decisions on allocations, or overseeing the financial integrity for a department or organisation. The job may include liaising with auditors or financial officers.

Effort

15% · 89 points▾

Mental effortLevel 3 of 5
36 of 60 points
High level of mental effort. The job involves frequent concentration on complex tasks that require considerable mental effort, such as interpreting complex data.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires the regular management of emotional responses, such as dealing with sensitive or challenging individuals or situations.
Physical effortLevel 1 of 5
10 of 48 points
Minimal physical effort. The job involves light physical tasks, such as occasional lifting or moving light objects.

Working Conditions

10% · 31 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Minimal exposure to hazards or stress. The job involves little or no exposure to physical hazards (e.g. chemicals, moving equipment, noise) and minimal emotional or psychological risks (e.g. occasional routine tasks with no emotional burden). There is minor exposure to dust, dirt, fumes, noise, waste, poor lighting, etc.
Organisational environmentLevel 2 of 5
14 of 36 points
Occasional organisational demands. The job may involve occasional irregular hours (e.g. the requirement to work weekends or holidays), minimal travel or limited digital connectivity outside normal working hours.